A family in Garissa is calling for justice and the release of their kin, who they claim was abducted by suspected National Police Reservists (NPR) in Hagadera, Fafi Sub-County, more than a year ago.
The family of Abdinassir Khalif, who disappeared on June 30 last year, staged a peaceful protest in Garissa town this week to demand answers from security agencies. Abdinassir, a local businessman, was reportedly taken away in the company of two friends while driving back his Toyota Probox after attending a wedding ceremony.
According to relatives, their attempts to trace his whereabouts began immediately after they received news of his disappearance. Their first stop was Welmerer Police Station, but officers at the station denied having booked him in their cells. Further efforts to seek information from higher offices in the county also yielded no results.
The family has raised serious concerns over what they describe as the “mystery” surrounding the case. They allege that Abdinassir’s vehicle has since been spotted being operated by security officers in Hagadera, yet his phone has remained switched off since the day of the incident.
“Every time we demand answers, we are met with silence,” one of Abdinassir’s brothers said during the protest. “It is deeply painful for us as a family not knowing whether our brother is alive or dead, while the very people who should protect us are implicated in his disappearance.”
The family has accused security agencies of frustrating their search for justice by failing to provide any meaningful information. They argue that the silence of authorities amounts to a cover-up and have vowed to continue pushing for accountability.
Efforts to obtain a comment from County Police Commander Amos Ambassa were unsuccessful, as he declined to respond to media inquiries.
The incident has reignited debate on the conduct of NPR officers in Garissa and other parts of northern Kenya, where they play a critical role in local security but have also been accused of human rights violations.
The Khalif family is now appealing to both the National Police Service and human rights organizations to intervene and help establish the fate of their missing kin.
